In case of a string (character array), the variable itself points to the first element of the array in question. Thus, there is no need to use the ‘&’ operator to pass the address.

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// C program to illustrate not using "&"

// in scanf statement

#include<stdio.h>

intmain()

{

charname[25];

// Syntax to scan a String

scanf("%s", name);

// Comparing base address of String with adrress

// of first element of array which must return

// true as both must be same

printf("(Is Base address = address of first element)? \n %d",

(name == &name[0]));

}

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Output:

(Is Base address = address of first element)?
1

Important Points

‘&’ is used to get the address of the variable. C does not have a string type, String is just an array of characters and an array variable stores the address of the first index location.

By default the variable itself points to the base address and therefore to access base address of string, there is no need of adding an extra ‘&’

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